Find out how popular the last name Ess is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ess.

Ess, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ess surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ess in America

Ess is the 41579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ess surname appeared 523 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ess.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ess to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ess

The surname Ess originated in Germany, with its earliest roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "essa," meaning "ridge" or "hill," suggesting that the name's bearers may have once lived near a prominent ridge or elevated landform.

The earliest documented instances of the name Ess can be found in medieval German records and manuscripts, such as the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which contains several references to individuals bearing the surname Ess in the 14th and 15th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname Ess was Johann Ess, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1490 to 1547. He was a prominent figure during the Protestant Reformation and authored several influential works on theology and philosophy.

Another person of note was Hans Ess, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1555 to 1609. His intricate engravings and woodcuts were highly regarded during the Renaissance period and can be found in various museums and collections across Europe.

In the 18th century, Johann Georg Ess, a German military officer and cartographer, gained recognition for his detailed maps and surveys of various regions in Europe. His work played a crucial role in the development of cartography and surveying techniques of the time.

The surname Ess also had a presence in other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, where the name was sometimes spelled as "Esse." One notable figure with this variation was Adriaen van Esse, a Dutch painter who lived from 1650 to 1708 and was known for his landscapes and seascapes.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Carl Ess, a German botanist and naturalist, made significant contributions to the study of plant life. His detailed records and observations of various plant species in Germany and neighboring regions helped advance the field of botany during that era.

Throughout its history, the surname Ess has maintained a strong presence in Germany and other parts of Europe, with various notable individuals bearing this name and contributing to various fields, from theology and philosophy to art, cartography, and natural sciences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ess

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ess.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ess was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ess has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ess was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ess, please contact us.

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